Husband and wife team, Nigel and Helen Brotherton decided in 2008 that in a country dominated by Wine and Food, the international community here on the French Riviera sometimes needs a little help to unravel the mysteries of a drink which is perhaps more 2nd nature to the indigenous natives! So FineWineWorks was created.
Helen holds the WSET (Wine and Spirit Education Trust) Diploma with Honours and is able to teach qualification courses up to WSET Advanced Level 3. She is also an Associate Member of the Institute of Wines & Spirits.
Helen has until recently worked with VSF (Vins Sans Frontieres) as a Wine Consultant based on the Riviera, specialising in Fine Wines for the Yachting market.
Before that she has had a varied and exciting career in the UK, initially as a professional actress for 11 years (yes, she does occasionally appear in long forgotten sitcoms on UK Gold in the early hours), and as a Chef in London whilst “resting” (between acting jobs!). Time to get a grown – up job and realising she liked drinking, Helen embarked on a career in the UK wine trade working with two of the most influential Wine Companies in the UK retail sector.
Helen then bought and ran her own restaurant in North Yorkshire before selling up when she met then married the lovely Nigel, and joined his family business.
Nigel, after a long career with WH Smiths retired as Logistics Director, to sort of consult a bit and play golf a lot, got bored and set up, with his family, two businesses in Pickering, North Yorkshire: “Seasons”, a Delicatessen & Wine Merchants and also a fresh Yorkshire Food Distribution company, “Moorsfresh”. Nigel is the business brains and the one with the patience here at FWW.
“Launched in 2008 by two greedy, overweight alcoholic quaffers, evangelical and more than slightly obsessive in their mission to spread the word about the fascinating and fabulous world of Wine & Food….”